UW's Ball named Big Ten's top running back for 2012

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CHICAGO - University of Wisconsin senior Montee Ball has been named the Big Ten’s running back of the year for the second straight season. And Badgers’ junior Jacob Pedersen was named the league’s tight end of the year. The awards were announced last night during a broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

Ball finished second in the conference with 127 rushing yards per game, but he led the league with 18 touchdowns. He said his biggest memory of the season could come on Saturday night, when the Badgers play Nebraska for the Big Ten title and what would be Wisconsin’s third straight Rose Bowl berth. Pedersen scored his fourth touchdown of the season last Saturday, forcing overtime at Penn State which the Badgers lost.

Ball was one of three Badgers to make both all-Big Ten teams selected by the coaches and the league’s media. The others are receiver Jared Abbrederis and tackle Rick Wagner. Pedersen and linebacker Chris Borland were named to the all-conference first team by the coaches, but they only received honorable mentions from the media. Badgers’ center Travis Frederick and linebacker Mike Taylor were named to the media’s first team, and honorable mentions by the coaches. Guard Ryan Groy and corner Devin Smith received second team honors from one group and honorable mentions from the other. Consensus honorable mentions went to Badgers Marcus Cromartie, David Gilbert, Ethan Hemer, Drew Meyer, and Dezmen Southward.

Tags: wisconsin sports, proam, football, badgers